Category: Spine Surgery | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
We want you to be protective of your surgically-corrected spine, but at the same time, we don’t want you to lay in bed for weeks while your body attempts to heal. Countless studies have shown that controlled movement can actually help to speed up the recovery process compared to prolonged inactivity, but you need to be sure you aren’t overdoing it. With that in mind, we use today’s blog to spotlight five tips for staying active during your recovery period after spine surgery.
How To Stay Active After Spine Surgery
The advice of your treating surgeon trumps anything you’ll read in this blog, but here are some ways you can stay active following your back surgery:
- Start Slow – We don’t expect you to be up and running a marathon the day after spine surgery (In fact, do not do that). Start slow and only do what your body can handle. For the first few days, that may only involve standing up and some light walking. It may not seem like much, but all these movements help to strengthen your spine and improve blood flow to recovering tissues.
- Work With A Physical Therapist – For best results, connect with a physical therapist who can give you some professional guidance during your rehabilitation period. They’ll be able to cultivate a movement and recovery program tailored to your individual needs, and they’ll ensure you aren’t pushing yourself too far and endangering your spine.
- Listen To Your Doctor – Some people push it too far and want to return to normal activities too quickly after spine surgery. While we admire your movement goals, you need to make sure that you mind any physical restrictions that have been put in place by your care team. Movement is wonderful during recovery, but you can have too much of a good thing, so always ensure you adhere to your restrictions and talk with your doctor if you believe your restrictions should be amended.
- Gradual Increases – Slowly but surely, push yourself to take on greater physical challenges. Your body needs to be challenged in order to make a full recovery, so push yourself to do more week after week. Listen to your body during this period and see if it’s craving more activity or needs to back off a bit because you pushed yourself a little too hard.
- Stick To Low Impact – It’s typically best to avoid high impact activities during the course of your recovery period. We’ll help you get back to athletics and high impact activities like running, but they can serve to overload your spine at a time when it’s working hard to recover. Walking, cycling, moving on an elliptical and swimming are all great low impact exercises, but you’ll want to avoid getting your incision wet until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon.
Movement is essential during your spine surgery recovery period, so seek it out while keeping your restrictions in mind. Lean on your surgeon and your physical therapist for personalized advice during your recovery period, and we’re confident you’ll make the strongest recovery possible. For more information, or for help with a specific spine issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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